Buckle



(No Model.)

E. G. JAY.

BUCKLE.

Patented Oct. 26, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIC EDWARD G. JAY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL S.'JAY, OF ABERDEEN, MARYLAND.

BUCKLE;

SPECIFICATION forming we of Letters Batent No. 592,733, dated October 26, 1897. Application filed Decemberltl, 1896. Serial No. 615,744. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, EDWARD G. JAY, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

According to this invention I make a buckle in two parts hinged together and detachably connected, the arrangement being such that when in use the two members of the buckle are so related that they cannot possibly be separated, but when properly manipulated and made to assume a position relatively to each other which they never assume when in use can be very quickly detached. The buckle also is so arranged as to 'betiglitly secured to the strap or straps to which it is applied without puncturing the strap or 6th erwise weakening it.

My improved buckle maybe applied to different parts of the same end of a strap or to the opposite ends thereof. It may be applied to bridles, reins, belts, ho'rse-blankets,'and, in fact, to very many different kinds of straps and belts or other like things where buckles are used and where it is desirable to quickly unbuckle as well as tightly and securely lock the strap.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows how my improved buckle is appliedto' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of g a bridle and bit. the buckle applied to a bridle, rein, or the like. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section through the buckle, the strap being in plan. Fig. 4 shows aperspective View of the two members of the buckle.

The precise shape of the buckle members is not important, nor is it necessary that they should be manufactured in an y. particular way or produced from any particular material. is substantially rectangular in outline, the

member A consisting of a rectangular frame surrounding a central rectangular opening a,

bridged by a cross-piece b, which is preferably triangular in cross-section, so that it may present a sharp-edge to the strap and thus prevent it from slipping. On the rear side the member A is provided with a loop 0 to aid in holding the strap in place, as hereinafter Preferably each member of the buckle explained. A cylindrical lug B is formed on one end of the member A, and it is provided with a vertically-arranged cylindrical socket d, with which communicates a verticallyarranged slotted opening 6, having parallel sides. either the front or rearside of the buckle This opening a may be arranged in member A, and in either case it is arranged at an angle of less thanvninety degrees with the body portion of the buckle member. Fig. 3 shows this opening 6 formed on the face of the buckle member A. The dotted lines 6' in said figure illustrate the position of the said opening when arranged on the rearside of the buckle member A. This latter position is preferable, inasmuch as the strap Y will close the opening 6 when the two members have been connected, and'thus all possibility of the parts becoming accidentally disengaged will be avoided. This object is further facilitated by the position of the loop 0, which aids in holding the strap Y'against the opening 6, no matter what position the buckle may assume. The opening is arranged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, as when thus arranged the strap Y will close the opening and more securely lock the buckle members together. The other buckle member O is also substantially rectangular in outline and has a rectangular central opening f. The two parallel upright frame-pieces g h are preferably circular in cross-section. The framepiece 72. extends all the way to the end of the bottom member C, as shown in Fig. 4, and this frame-piece is adapted to enter the socket din the lug B. At its opposite end the frame-piece h is provided with an enlarged cap t'.

When the buckle is applied t'o-a bridle, the parts are arranged as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The end of the strap is passed through the opening f of the member 0 and is looped and attached in the usual way, as indicated. The strap also passes through the loop 0, then through the opening a, over the oross-piece b, and again back through the opening a. By this arrangement the strap is securely fastened to the member A and is not apt to slip.

Fig. 2 shows the buckle members in posiso as to have a slight oscillating movement, but when the reins are tight, as shown in Fig. 1, they are practically rigid. It will be understood that when applying the reins to a bit the end of the strap containing the memher 0 is passed through the ring, as shown in Fig. 1, and the frame-piece 7r is arranged in the socket d. It is inserted in the socket (Z by beingarranged above the lug and then slid in endwise, the bottom piece j of the member C being of such width as to readily pass down through the slot c. The cap 'i arrests the downward movement of the member C when it has come into proper alinement with the member A.

The buckle should always be arranged with the two members in the relative positions indicated-that is, with the cap 1 above the socket-so that if by any chance the buckle members should assume the position indicated in Fig. 3 they could not become separated by gravity, but would have to be positively manipulated.

This buckle is found to be strong and durable and easily operated and is not so apt to be broken as asnap-hook, which is sometimes used for the same purpose.

I claim as myinvention- 1. Abuekle comprising two members hinged together, one of said members having a central opening bridged by a cross-piece, and having also a cylindrical lug having a cylindrical socket communicating with a verticallyarranged slotted opening having parallel sides extending at an angle of less than ninety degrees, with the plane of the buckle, and the other bu ckle member havinga central opening and a cross-piece adapted to fit the socket in the other buckle member, whose cylindrical lug is so formed as to rotate freely about said cross-piece as an axis, and having also an end piece adapted to traverse the slot and adapted to be disconnected therefrom at only one position, andacap to limit the movement of one buckle member relatively to the other.

2. A buckle eomprisingtwo members hinged together, one of said members having a rectangular frame with a central opening bridged by a cross-piece, and a loop on its rear side, and provided also with a lug having a central, vertically-arranged socket communicating at its rear face with a slotted opening, having parallel sides, the other buckle member consisting of a rectangular frame having a. side piece adapted to fit the socket of the other buckle member, and an end piece adapted to slide in the slotted opening therein, and having also a cap to limit the movement of one buckle member relatively to the other in combination with a strap attached to one buckle member and passing through the loop of the other buckle member, so as to close the slotted opening and prevent the parts from becoming disengaged.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name.

ED\VARD G. JAY. Witnesses:

II. S. BROWN, LLOYD B. WIGHT. 

